Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder 

June 14, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 6:12 p.m., deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the intersection of Grapefruit Boulevard and 4th Street, in the unincorporated community of Riverside County known as Mecca, regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, deputies spoke to the reporting party, who described a shooting incident that occurred in the area and provided a description of the involved vehicles.

Deputies searched the area and located evidence of the shooting. Additional deputies located a vehicle in the area of Avenue 66 and Highway 86 that matched the description of the vehicle involved. Deputies contacted the driver, who reported damage to their vehicle consistent with gunshots. The driver was determined to be the victim of the shooting and reported no injuries.

During the investigation, deputies identified the suspect as Ricardo Zendejas, a 30-year-old resident of Mecca. Zendejas vehicle was located in the unincorporated community of Riverside County known as Sky Valley, where deputies conducted a traffic stop and took Zendejas into custody without incident.  Zendejas was transported and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for attempted murder.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Deputy Beck at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 863-8990.

Reporting Supervisor: Lieutenant Jose Tijerina

File # C261630030

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office